Air Force and Marine Corps F-35s at the joint-service schoolhouse at Eglin AFB, Fla., reached their 500th combined sortie since flight operations began there earlier this year, announced aircraft prime contractor Lockheed Martin. A 33rd Fighter Wing F-35 hit the half-thousand sortie mark on Nov. 2—238 days after flying operations commenced on March 6, states the company’s release. The sortie rate at Eglin continues to accelerate as more F-35s arrive and the schoolhouse ramps up to full-up pilot training. The wing’s mixed fleet of Air Force F-35As and Marine Corps F-35Bs currently stands at 22 aircraft, according to Lockheed Martin. (See also Eglin Wing Flies 100th F-35 Sortie.)
Lt. Gen. Dan Caine, nominee to be chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told the Senate Armed Services Committee that the Defense Department needs to upgrade its electronic warfare capability and its EW training ranges; just as his predecessor said at his own confirmation hearing.